Duke Engineers for International Development (DEID) is an organization that supports high-impact engineering projects around the world by combining community-driven ideas with student design. DEID partners with under-served communities on cost-efficient and sustainable projects aimed at improving the standard of living of numerous individuals.

Students gain real-world experience working on projects in a wide range of engineering disciplines that promote a sense of international responsibility.

For the past two years, DEID has been working to provide clean water for Manantenina, a village in Madagascar. Manantenina's proximity to Marojejy National Park lends to its close relationship with the Duke Lemur Center, which supports capacity building, education, and research in the SAVA region of Madagascar. This existing partnership made it easy for DEID to identify the needs of the community and to create projects that aim to provide for these needs. DEID Madagascar was established to address the biggest problem faced by the villagers of Manantenina: lack of access to clean water. Our efforts have culminated in a rainwater catchment system and an ongoing construction of a water line.

Last year, the DEID Madagascar team traveled to Manantenina to begin the implementation of a groundwater distribution network which would transport water from a natural source to the village to give them year round access to clean water. Due to the immensity of the project, it was divided into two parts. DEID Madagascar 2017 constructed a dam to collect water from the natural source, as well as a filter to clean it. The dam and filter are located in Anolakely, approximately one kilometer west of Manantenina. The implementation of the dam and filter created a water access point to Manantenia school and started to bring positive change. Currently dirty water is used washing clothes, bathing, and even drinking, all of which will spread diseases and lower the overall health of the community. Our current project is to complete this effort through the implementation of the pipeline and a distribution system consisting of 9-12 taps throughout the village so that accessing clean water will be convenient for all residents. We hope to increase the positive change that DEID Madagascar 2017 has brought by providing crucial access to clean water to all residents, and we plan to ensure the sustainability of this system by training community members on how to repair the system. We believe that our project addresses the sixth sustainable development goal of International Institute of Sustainable Development which is to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. With this project we aim to start a sustainable development in the village of Manantenina and increase the overall health and life quality of the community as well as preserving the natural life in Madagascar.

DEID’s mission is to create cost-effective, sustainable, and community-driven projects. In the project not only will the students at the primary school in Manantenina school be involved, the entire community will take part in making the dream of clean water access come true. Part of our goal this summer is to train local engineers on upkeep and maintenance of the water system, and through that we hope to minimize the funding needed to sustain the project. The project also aligns with DEID’s mission to provide students with real-world engineering experience. Students work with certified professional engineers before the trip to create appropriate designs, and work in field to implement the design and develop crucial problem-solving skills. Additionally, the students will be learning how to approach real engineering problems in the perspective of creating a more sustainable world.

Countless organizations around the world work to provide clean water to underdeveloped areas, and DEID similarly increases this access to a basic necessity of life. DIED, however, is the only group working specifically with the Manantenina community. Our approach, therefore, can be made specifically tailored to their needs that we have determined by working with them through Duke Lemur Center, and a more optimal and sustainable solution can be crafted. We are also unique in the focus we have on connecting with our community; we plan to work with local engineers, students, and families to foster a genuine relationship in order to address self-identified needs rather than imposing a solution. As this relationship grows, we plan to work on side projects, for example constructing a basketball hoop if they so desire.

We need donations to turn our project into reality. We are so excited to go Madagascar and we are ready to keep you updated with what we do over there. Thank you in advanced for all the donations!